1. home and garden
2. home furnishings
3. rugs and carpets

R E P O R T
S E A L ’ S
G R E E N
DECEMBER 2001
CARPET
e walk on carpet almost every day—yet the appealing colors
and patterns and the cushioning comfort it provides are often
taken for granted. We notice when it’s worn or soiled, but we
seldom, if ever, think about how this ubiquitous product is made, how
it affects indoor air quality during use, and what happens to it when
it is discarded and replaced. Fortunately, the carpet
industry has been doing some serious thinking
about the complex environmental choices
among carpet materials,
production processes,
and recycling
opportunities and offers an
array of products that represent
greener choices.
W
Carpet is usually made from
synthetic fibers, such as nylon,
which are
produced from
Carpet sent
petroleum, a
to landfills
non-renewable
each year covers
resource.
Petrochemical
an area greater
processes for
than New York
synthetic fiber
City.
production
require high
inputs of
energy and
water and
produce
harmful air
emissions
(hazardous
air pollutants
and volatile
organic
compounds (VOCs) that contribute
to smog). Carpet production itself
is energy and water intensive, and
toxic dyes have been used to
produce the attractive colors we
demand, which sometimes end up
in streams. Carpet has also been
identified as a contributor to
indoor air pollution, particularly
from adhesives used for
installation. Finally, old carpet has
been typically disposed of in
landfills, taking up valuable
landfill space and wasting
resources that could be reused or
recycled. The carpet industry
continues to address each of these
major environmental impacts
with different approaches
depending on the company and
the type of carpet being
manufactured.
INDUSTRY FACTS
• Over 1.9 billion square yards of carpet were produced in the
United States in 1999. This is nearly 5 million tons (based on an
average of 5 pounds per square yard).
• The carpet industry currently uses an average of 10.1 gallons of
water per square yard of carpet produced.
• The average energy use is 23,000 British Thermal Units
(BTUs) per square yard of carpet produced.
• Approximately 2.44 million tons of old carpet were landfilled in
1999. The carpet waste generated in just one year at the current
level, if laid flat on the ground, would be more than enough to
completely cover New York City.
There are around 240 carpet
manufacturing plants currently
operating in the U.S. located in 21
states. Of these, about 174 plants
are located within a 65-mile radius
of Dalton, Georgia, which is known
as the “Carpet Capital” of the
The Choose Green Report is published
for Green Seal Environmental Partners.
To become an Environmental Partner,
or to receive a copy of this report,
contact Green Seal at (202) 872-6400 or
greenseal@greenseal.org.
Green Seal President and CEO,
Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D.
Editor, Mark Petruzzi
Researchers and Writers, Gary Davis,
Rajive Dhingra, University of Tennessee
Center for Clean Products and Clean
Technologies
Design, Cutting Edge Graphics
Printed on Green Seal-certified
Mohawk Satin Cool White Recycled
paper, 30% postconsumer content
This Choose Green Report was produced
with assistance from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s
Pollution Prevention Division.
Copyright © 2001, Green Seal, Inc.
www.greenseal.org
GREEN SEAL
Environmental Partner
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world. The total industry sales in
1999 were approximately $12
billion. The United States supplies
45% of the world’s carpet. Of the
total carpet market, 74% is
residential and 26% commercial.
Putting It All
Together
Mostly Tufted
The two main types of carpet
produced in the U.S. are tufted and
woven, with tufted accounting for
most of the production (more than
90%). Tufting is a process that
grew out of the chenille bedspread
industry and involves using a
series of needles to insert loops of
pile yarn into a primary backing,
which is commonly made of
polypropylene. The loops are
secured to the primary backing
with an adhesive compound,
typically styrene butadiene rubber
(SBR), or other chemical binders.
Most carpet products have a
secondary backing of
polypropylene for increased
strength and stability and may
have a synthetic foam cushion
attached. Secondary backings are
typically attached using smaller
amounts of SBR. Woven carpets
are made on huge looms by taking
the face and backing yarns
together and weaving them into a
thick fabric. A latex coating is
usually applied to the underside to
impart stability.
On the Face of It
Face fiber is used to produce
the pile yarn, which is tufted or
woven to form the carpet pile.
Over 3.5 billion pounds of face
fiber are consumed each year by
the carpet manufacturing industry.
The largest manufacturer alone
uses over 2 million pounds of face
fiber a day. The face fiber is
predominantly made from
synthetic materials (such as nylon,
TILES VS. BROADLOOM
Carpet is produced in two
forms: broadloom (typically
6- and 12-foot width rolls)
and modular tiles. Carpet tile
is carpet that has been
processed into squares,
usually 17"x17" or greater.
This type of floorcovering
allows for easy access to the
subfloor, unique designs on
the floor, and ease of storage
as it is shipped in cartons
usually containing 20 tiles
each. Tiles use more material
initially because of the need
for a thicker backing but, in
the long run, the use of
modular tiles can save
materials because worn or
soiled tiles can be replaced
individually instead of
replacing the whole carpet.
olefins, and polyester) in the U.S.
today, with carpets made from
natural fibers (mostly wool, which
is more costly than any of the
synthetic fibers) representing only
a small percentage of total
production. Other natural fibers
used in very small quantities
include cotton, sisal, jute, hemp,
and coir.
MARKET SHARE BY FIBER TYPE
Wool
0.4%
Polyester
7%
Nylon
57%
Olefin
36%
Backing It Up
While polypropylene is
predominantly used as the primary
and secondary backing material
for carpet, some non-woven
materials may be used as primary
backing for carpet tiles. Jute is
sometimes used as primary
backing in woven woolen carpets.
The binders used for attaching
primary and secondary backings
are synthetic rubber (SBR latex),
polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), and ethylene vinyl acetate
(EVA). The backing can contribute
up to 60% of the carpet material
by weight.
How Green Is My
Carpet?
Fibers Are a Mixed Bag
Both synthetic and natural
fibers have their advantages and
drawbacks, and both create
different types of environmental
impacts. In the case of synthetic
fibers, the manufacturing
impacts, such as energy
use and air
emissions
generated prior
to carpet
making, are
typically more
significant. All
synthetic
fibers are
petroleumbased and, for
that reason, they
bring with them the environmental
impacts associated with petroleum
exploration and refining.
Petroleum is a non-renewable
resource, and using it to produce
synthetic fibers requires large
amounts of energy and generates
considerable pollution. On the
other hand, agricultural impacts
(and grazing impacts in the case of
sheep’s wool) result from use of
natural fibers. Wool also involves
the use of water and energy for
washing, and water pollution and
solid wastes are generated from
the wool-washing process.
Additionally, methane releases
from sheep could contribute to
global warming. Wool, however, is
a renewable resource and requires
less energy to produce than
synthetics.
■ Nylon is the most commonly
used synthetic fiber for carpets.
It is durable, can be easily
cleaned, is lightweight, and
has a good texture. Two
closely related forms
of nylon (nylon 6 and
nylon 6,6) are used in
carpet facing. Some
manufacturers
believe that nylon 6,6
offers better
performance
characteristics,
such as stain
resistance. From
an environmental standpoint,
nylon requires high energy to
produce, and its production
involves the precursors benzene
(a known human carcinogen,
for nylon 6) and hydrogen
cyanide gas (which is extremely
poisonous, for nylon 6,6). The
manufacturing of nylon releases
volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), nitrogen oxides and
ammonia.
■ Olefins, such as polypropylene,
are generally less expensive,
require less energy to produce
than other synthetic fibers
typically used in carpets, have
good color-fastness and tend to
generate less static electricity
than other fibers. While
polypropylene is quite durable,
its drawbacks include less
texture retention and less
resilience than nylon.
■ Polyester (polyethylene
terephthalate—PET) is another
fiber used for making carpets.
It’s not as durable as nylon and,
therefore, is best suited for use
in light or medium traffic areas
only. The major environmental
advantage of PET is that it can
be manufactured from postconsumer recycled plastic
packaging (soft drink bottles),
thus providing an end product
with a high recycled content.
Purchasers should select the
carpet fiber best suited for their
applications. Wool makes an
excellent choice when price is not
a major concern. Nylon can be
used for heavy-duty, high-traffic
applications. Olefins can be used
where texture and resilience are
not as critical. And polyester
should be considered for light-tomedium traffic applications.
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Toxics Lurk Behind
All synthetic backing materials
used in carpet manufacturing have
known environmental drawbacks.
PVC, a commonly used backing
material, is produced from vinyl
chloride monomer, a potent human
carcinogen. PVC contains
stabilizers, such as lead (a toxic
metal), and also contains
plasticizer chemicals (usually
phthalates) that may be released
into the indoor environment
throughout the life of the carpet.
Moreover, if carpets are
incinerated for energy recovery,
PVC backing can release dioxins,
compounds that are potent
carcinogens and can cause
immune system damage. PVC,
however, can be recycled into new
vinyl carpet backing through
existing programs.
The manufacture of synthetic
rubber (styrene butadiene rubber
or SBR) involves toxic chemicals
such as polystyrene and 4phenylcyclohexene (4-PC), a by-
RECYCLED CONTENT
DEFINITIONS
Post-Consumer: A
material or finished product
that has served its intended
use and has been diverted or
recovered from waste
destined for disposal, having
completed its life as a
consumer item.
Post-Industrial: Materials
generated in manufacturing
and converting processes,
such as manufacturing scrap
and trimmings/cuttings, that
have been recovered or
diverted from solid waste.
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product with a
very low odor
Carpets, by
threshold. The
nature, trap
production of
polyurethane,
dust, dirt, fumes,
another
and other
commonly
contaminants.
used backing
material,
involves the
use of methylenediphenyl
isocyanate (MDI), which could be
hazardous for workers, although
controls to prevent exposure are
generally in place. MDI can cause
dermatitis and respiratory
diseases in workers and may alter
the immune system, resulting in
sensitization of the respiratory
system and asthma-like reactions.
MDI is not considered a carcinogen
in humans, however, and does not
present an exposure risk in the
finished carpet products. There
are no current commercial-scale
recycling processes for
polyurethane-backed carpet, but
recycling options exist for
polyurethane padding.
Solutions To Dye For
Dyeing (by wet methods) is
inherently an environmentally
burdensome process. Though the
chemicals used differ from process
to process and fiber to fiber, the
benzidine-based azo dyes in
particular are considered
carcinogenic. Carpet dyeing by wet
methods consumes huge amounts
of energy and water and involves
wastewater and dye releases to the
environment. Steam fixing and
drying of the carpet is highly
energy-intensive, while
wastewater is generated mainly
from spent dye solutions and
washing. According to industry
reports, carpet manufacturers are
constantly finding ways to reduce
water usage, resulting in a
reduction in the average quantity
of water consumed per square
yard of carpet from 14.1 gallons to
10.1 gallons in the last four years.
Because energy use and
wastewater release have been
issues of environmental concern
for carpet mills for a long time,
these are major focus areas for
environmental improvements by
the industry.
Dyeing methods such as
solution dyeing are less
burdensome to the environment
and should be preferred. Solution
dyeing is a process in which color
is added to the molten polymer
solution from which the fibers are
extruded. Solution dyeing does not
involve any aqueous dye solutions
or drying steps, thereby
considerably reducing the amount
of energy and water usage that is
typically associated with vat
dyeing. Moreover, solution-dyed
nylon has better color fastness and
improved resistance to cleaning
chemicals, including dilute bleach.
Taking
the Breath Away
Air pollution within the home or
workplace has assumed greater
significance as buildings became
more airtight to improve energy
efficiency. Carpets, by nature, trap
dust, dirt, fumes, and other
contaminants. Proper vacuuming
is necessary to remove dust and
other contaminants from the
carpet for better indoor air quality
as well as longer carpet life.
Moreover, the chemical makeup of
the carpet assembly can release
Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) for 48 to 72 hours after
installation. Adhesives, seam
sealants, and carpet padding all
contribute to VOC off-gassing, but
adhesives are generally the largest
source of VOCs. To address these
concerns and to identify carpet
products that are truly low-VOC,
the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
has established a labeling
program. The “green label” CRI
Indoor Air Quality Carpet Testing
Program for carpets assures the
consumer that the product has
been tested and meets the criteria
for low emissions.
The current criteria for the CRI
green label, which appear below,
are based on maximum allowable
emission factors for finished
carpet, adhesives, and cushion.
Pollutant
2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol
4-PC (4-Phenylcyclohexene)
BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene)
Formaldehyde
Styrene
Total Volatile Organic Compounds
Carpet
mg/m2-hr
Adhesive
mg/m2-hr
< 3.0
< 0.05
< 0.05
< 0.4
< 0.5
Cushion
mg/m2-hr
< 0.05
< 0.05
< 0.3
< 0.05
< 10.0
< 1.0
Note: Formaldehyde is not used in carpet or adhesives, but levels are tested to demonstrate that
formaldehyde is not an issue in carpets (Source: CRI).
In the past, volatile organic
solvents have been used to
emulsify or liquefy the bonding
resin in adhesives. More recently,
manufacturers have begun using
heat instead of volatile solvents to
emulsify their resin. Some
manufacturers now sell low-VOC
products, and some claim to have
reduced VOCs to zero. Adhesives
are primarily used in commercial,
not residential, installation. Some
products, like “peel and stick”
carpet tiles, do not require an
additional application of adhesives
during installation, which reduces
the amount of off-gassing that
occurs at the installation site.
Green Seal’s consensus standard
for industrial adhesives calls for
VOC levels of no more than 150g/l
for flooring adhesives.
Getting In the Loop
Few reuse and recycling options
have traditionally existed for
carpet. Though high enough in
BTU value, carpet’s bulky nature
and the associated high
transportation costs make it a poor
candidate for waste-to-energy
incineration. As a result, more
than 2 million tons of carpet are
landfilled in the U.S. each year.
However,
there are
some
Buy
additional
options
refurbished
available now
carpet whenever
to keep carpet
possible.
out of landfills
altogether or,
at least, to
More than
extend the
time before it
2 million tons
is landfilled.
of carpet are
Problems that
landfilled in
affect the
viability of
the U.S.
reuse and
each year.
recycling of
carpet are the
costs of collection, sorting, and
transportation to the reuse or
recycling facility. Sorting
carpet by material for
recycling has been facilitated
by the development of
instruments for automated
determination of material
content.
Make It As Good
As New
Carpet is often replaced for
aesthetic reasons, because it
“looks” old or has lost its
“new” appeal. Refurbishment
involving cleaning and redyeing gives carpet a new
lease on life. Milliken Carpet is
one company that takes back
its modular carpet tiles and,
through its “Earth Square”
process, restores them to “like
new” condition. The process
involves super-heated
cleaning, retexturing, and re-
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5
design. The
Carpet tiles
reconditioned
tiles cost 40–
make it easy to
45% less than
renew areas of
new ones and
worn or soiled
come with a
10-year
carpet,
warranty.
extending the
Good quality
life of the overall
used carpet
can also be
floorcovering.
sold or
donated to
charities rather than being
discarded.
Lease and Use Less
Carpet leasing programs that
result in the carpet being brought
back to the manufacturer at the
end of its life may increase the
refurbishment, reuse, and
recycling of carpet. If
environmental benefits are of
interest to the consumer, the
manufacturer should be queried in
order to ensure that this is an
intended result of such a program.
A company that leases “carpet
service” by the square foot is
Interface, through its Evergreen
Lease program. The worn-out tiles
are replaced and taken back by
Interface for recycling. This
ensures that, for a monthly lease
fee, the customer will have good
carpet all the time. Most other
carpet companies can offer leasing
options for their products, though
at this time, many are strictly
financing options that have little
impact on the management of endof-life carpet.
Closing the Loop Is Best
“Carpet-to-carpet” is considered
the best form of recycling because
the resources and energy used to
manufacture the original carpet
are utilized again to produce new
carpet that lasts another lifetime,
instead of being wasted. But
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recycling does not come without its
own environmental burdens. The
particular recycling process used
dictates the amount of energy
consumed to convert the material
back into a usable form. Not
enough data are available to
compare specific recycling
processes, but closed-loop
recycling in general is preferable
because it avoids a number of
initial steps (extraction and
materials processing) required to
prepare the material for use in
carpet manufacture.
There are two forms of closedloop recycling: chemical recycling
and materials
recycling. In
chemical
recycling the
nylon face fiber
is physically or
chemically
separated from
the backing and
other materials
and then
subjected to a
depolymerization
process to
convert it back
into caprolactam,
the monomer
from which it was made. The
caprolactam can then be used to
make fresh nylon 6, making it an
almost infinitely renewable nylon
resin system. BASF is the only
company that currently recycles
nylon 6. BASF collects and recycles
carpets through its own “6ix
Again” program. BASF accepts any
end-of-life product bearing the 6ix
Again back stamp at no charge
and, after shaving the nylon 6 face
fiber off, recycles it through its
patented recycling process.
Honeywell (formerly Allied Signal),
through a joint venture called
Evergreen Nylon Recycling located
in Augusta, GA, manufactured the
“Infinity” brand recycled nylon 6.
The plant had the capacity to keep
up to 200 million pounds of nylon
6 waste out of U.S. landfills each
year. According to recent reports,
however, higher-than-expected
production and development costs
combined with current business
and economic conditions forced
the plant to temporarily suspend
operations in September 2001. It
will remain closed for an indefinite
period of time.
While Nylon 6 has been the only
type of nylon that could be
recycled so far, Solutia Inc. has
developed a closed-loop process to
recycle nylon 6,6 from postindustrial materials (under the
brand name Ultron Renew). This
fiber is currently being used by
carpet manufacturers, including
Interface (in its “Sabi” collection).
In closed-loop materials
recycling, carpet materials are
recycled into new carpet through
mechanical and thermal processes
without changing the chemical
form of the materials. The “Infinity
Initiative” of Collins and Aikman
Floorcoverings (C&A) involves
recycling old carpet into new
carpet backing. Used vinyl-backed
carpet is collected, reduced to
small pellets, mixed with postindustrial carpet waste, and reextruded to form a 100% recycled
carpet tile backing. Some
materials suppliers incorporate
post-industrial recycled content
into the nylon fibers they produce
(e.g., Solutia Inc., Dupont).
Recycle Down If Need Be
If reuse or closed-loop recycling
are not possible, the next
alternative is to recycle the carpet
materials into other applications
and products. This process is
called “open-loop recycling” or
“downcycling.” One example is the
DuPont Carpet Reclamation
program. Begun in 1990 by
DuPont, the company that invented
nylon, the program accepts carpet
of any type for melt-processing
into automobile parts, industrial
flooring, soundproofing material,
soil enhancement material, and
padding. The program has a large
number of reclamation locations
throughout the country where
installers can drop off used carpet
at a cost comparable to that of
landfilling.
Buy Recycled
In addition to recycling postconsumer carpet to the maximum
extent possible, it is also desirable
to use recycled content to
manufacture it in the first place.
Closed-loop recycling
automatically
ensures that
recycled
content is
used, but
there are
certain
varieties of
carpet that
can be made
either
completely
from, or
Two cases of soft
incorporate a
drink bottles
high content
diverted from
of, postconsumer or
the waste
poststream will
industrial
make a square
recycled
material. An
yard of polyester
example is
carpet.
the polyester
carpet
POWERBOND ER3
Collins and Aikman (C&A) Floorcovering’s Powerbond ER3 modular
tiles come with a 100% recycled content backing and are available
with the company’s low VOC “peel and stick” adhesive system. The
products contain between 31–50% overall recycled content
(depending on the style), of which a minimum of 23% is material from
recycled carpet, 7% of which is post-consumer. C&A has a carpet
collection/ recovery system and a currently operational, commercialscale, recycling process to recycle vinyl-backed carpet. C&A can
recycle any vinyl-backed carpet regardless of the original
manufacturer. Carpet recycled in the process is used to produce ER3,
100% recycled content carpet backing. All C&A products are 100%
recyclable in the patented process. C&A provides customers with a
written guarantee that carpet returned for recycling will never be
landfilled, incinerated (waste-to energy), or disposed of in any
other way.
“Envirelon” made from PET soda
pop bottles diverted from the
waste stream by Talisman Mills. It
takes about two cases of recycled
bottles to make a square yard of
carpet.
NATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR
CARPET STEWARDSHIP
After two years of dialogue
and work by industry, state
and federal government, and
environmental groups, a
national agreement on
carpet stewardship has been
signed. This agreement is the
first voluntary, multistakeholder product
stewardship in the United
States. It commits the
signatories to achieving a
landfill diversion goal of
40% by 2012, to be
accomplished primarily
through increased reuse and
recycling of post-consumer
carpet. To meet the goals of
the agreement, the carpet
industry has already
established a third-party
organization, called the
Carpet America Recovery
Effort (CARE). In addition to
responsibility for meeting the
goals, CARE will help
develop the collection
infrastructure for carpet and
will develop and perform
quantitative measurement
and reporting requirements
on progress towards the
goals.
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7
Checklist
SHOPPING FOR GREEN CARPET
To reduce the environmental impacts of your carpet choice, consider the following when it comes time
to buy:
• Buy refurbished carpet whenever possible.
• Specify carpet with high overall recycled content (in the face fiber and backing), preferably postconsumer. EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) designate a 25–100 % total
recovered materials content (all post-consumer) for polyester carpet face fiber. The guidelines for
nylon carpet are currently available only in draft form, but they recommend that the face fiber
should have a total recovered materials content of 25–100% (1–100% of it post-consumer) and that
the backing should be made of 100% recovered materials (with a post-consumer content of
35–70%).
• Ask whether environmental leasing or take-back programs are
provided, to ensure that the carpet will be replaced only as
necessary and reused or recycled by the producer.
• Use carpet tiles where appropriate to extend the life of the installed
floorcovering.
• Buy carpet made from recyclable materials and likely to be easily
accepted for recycling under existing programs. Carpet containing nylon 6
face fiber and vinyl-backed carpets are currently recyclable. No recycling
programs currently exist for polyester carpet.
• Consider purchasing carpet made of wool or other natural fibers if your primary
concern is the use of non-renewable resources.
• Buy carpet that is solution-dyed.
• Buy carpet that meets CRI Indoor Air Quality standards (Green Label program).
• Ensure that low VOC adhesives (CRI certified) are used during installation.
• Buy a carpet product that is consistent with the desired performance level, expected use pattern,
and replacement schedule.
• Select an appropriate color for the carpet application. Light colors tend to get soiled easily and may
require the frequent use of harsh cleaning chemicals and/or replacement.
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MANUFACTURER
VOLATILE
ORGANIC
EMISSIONS
RECYCLABLITY
Beck
CRI
standard
No current programs for
polyester carpet
None
Yarn
CRI
standard
Into other applications
None
Carpet is sold
un-dyed, or the
yarn dyed
using vegetable
dyes or nonacid dyes
Negligible
VOCs
detected by
lab tests
Biodegradable;
puts nitrogen back
into the soil
Vinyl backing contains 100%
recycled content (mix of PC and
PI materials); 31% to 50%
overall recycled content
Solution/
Yarn
CRI
standard
All vinyl-backed
products are 100%
recyclable into carpet
backing
100% recycled content GlasBac
RE vinyl backing + high recycled
content nylon 6,6 face fiber;
51% overall (22% PC + 29% PI)
for Sabi and 55% overall (22%
PC + 33% PI) for Prairie School
Solution/
Yarn
CRI
standard
Recyclable
BRAND
FIBER
TYPE
RECYCLED
CONTENT
Beaulieu
Polyester
100% recycled PET recovered
from bottles
Brintons U.S.
Axminster
80/20
Wool/
Nylon
Colin Campbell
Wool from
organically-raised
sheep
Collins and
Aikman
Nylon 6,6
Interface
Nylon 6,6
Caladium
Custom Woven
Nature’ s Carpet
Powerbond E3
“ Sabi” and
“ Prairie School
Collection”
DYEING
METHOD
Evergreen leasing
program recycles used
carpet tiles.
J&J
Nylon 6
25% of face fiber (7% PC
+ 18% PI content)
Solution/
Yarn
CRI
standard
J&J’ s Carpet
Reclamation Program
Lees
Nylon 6,6
4%–60% of face fiber
Solution/
Yarn
CRI
standard
DuPont Carpet
Reclamation Program
Mannington
Nylon 6,6
25%–40% in the backing
+ recycled content face fiber by
DuPont
Solution/ Yarn
CR I
standard
DuPont Carpet
Reclamation Program
Milliken
Nylon 6,6
Renewed and refurbished
product has 100% PC content
Solution,
Injection
CRI
standard
Renewable
Mohawk
Nylon 6
50% of face fiber
(25% PC + 25% PI content)
Solution
CRI
standard
Nylon 6 closed-loop;
other materials
downcycled
Image (light duty)
Polyester
100% PC face fiber from
PET bottles
Piece
CRI
standard
No current programs
for polyester carpet
Shaw
Nylon 6
Face fiber has 25% PC
and PI recycled content
Solution
CRI
standard
Yarn into yarn;
backing into backing
Talisman
Polyester
100% face fiber from PC soft
drink bottles
Skein
CRI
standard
No current programs
for polyester carpet
Encore SD Ultima
Unibond, Lees6,
Lees Squared
Infinity Backing
Series
Earth Square
(Attitudes,
Movements)
ColorStrand
Infinity
EcoSolution Q
fiber + Ecoworx
olefin backing
Envirelon
Notes:
1. Most manufacturers offer leasing options, if desired by the customer. However,
the customer should make sure that the manufacturer commits not to landfill or
incinerate the carpet taken back, but instead to refurbish or recycle it.
2. Beck dyeing is a wet process in which carpet sewn into a loop is continuously
rotated and immersed in a heated dye vat for several hours (commonly used for
cut-pile carpet). Beck dyeing is a piece dye method.
3. Yarn dyeing is another wet process in which the finished yarn is dyed prior to
carpet assembly.
4. Skein (or “package” dyeing) is a wet process that involves reeling the yarn into
“skeins” or winding it onto a “package” (on a perforated tube), and dyeing in vats.
5. Injection dyeing involves the use of micro jets to inject dye into the face of the finished
carpet.
6. PC = Post-consumer
7. PI = Post-industrial
© 2001, Green Seal, Inc. Use of this table for commercial purposes is prohibited. Information in this table was confirmed with the manufacturer. It has not been independently verified by Green Seal unless
otherwise identified as Green Seal certified.
Recommended Carpet Brands
Choose Green Report
9
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
WASHINGTON, DC
PERMIT NO. 5515
1001 CONNECTICUT AVE., NW
SUITE 827
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
IN THIS ISSUE
— Recommended
Carpet Brands
— How Green Is My Carpet?
— Fibers
— Toxics
— Dye
— VOCs
— Recycling
MANUFACTURER CONTACT INFORMATION
Beaulieu of America
(706) 278-6666
www.beaulieu-usa.com
Brintons U.S. Axminster
(662) 332.1581
www.brintonsusax.com
Colin Campbell and Sons
(800) 667-5001
www.colcam.com
Collins and Aikman Floorcoverings
(800) 248-2878
www.powerbond.com
Interface Flooring Systems
(800) 336-0225
www.interfaceinc.com/us
J&J Industries
(800) 241-4586
www.jjindustries.com
Lees Carpets
(800) 523-7888
www.leescarpets.com
Mannington Mills
(800) 241-2262
www.mannington.com
Milliken Carpet
(877) E2 RENEW
www.millikencarpet.com
Mohawk Industries
(800) 554-6637
www.mohawkcarpet.com
Shaw Industries
(800) 441-7429
www.shawinc.com
Talisman Mills
(800) 482-5466